Cam Ranh airport takes flight

A Vietnam Airlines’ Airbus A320 from HCM City touched down on the Cam Ranh
runway in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on Wednesday, opening
domestic passenger flights to the airport, which was once a military airport
during the American war.

The move is part of the Government’s plan to exploit the airport for
civil purposes to fully tap the potentials of the south-central and Central
Highlands regions.

Under the Cam Ranh Bay development strategy, approved by the Prime
Minister last October, Cam Ranh airport will be upgraded to international
standards by 2005, when it will receive long-haul aircraft.

General Director of the Central Region Civil Aviation Administration,
Nguyen Lai could not hold his tears saying he and his colleagues had spent
four months shuttling between Hanoi, HCM City, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Cam
Ranh to turn the military airbase into the present civil airport. He said
Vietnam Airlines will fly frequently to Cam Ranh from Hanoi, HCM City and Da
Nang, using A320s, A321s and Boeing 767s. The airport has a runway of 3,045m
in length and 45m in width, and it is able to service 10 large aircraft at
the same time.

Pham Van Chi, Chairman of Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee said
the inauguration of the terminal would help boost provincial socio-economic
development. It aims to welcome 1 million visitors by 2010 and 2 million by
2020.

Chi said the province will develop tourist resorts and high-quality
services on the northern part of the Cam Ranh peninsular. Along the
newly-built Cu Hin pass leading to Cam Ranh airport, industrial parks will
be built to attract domestic and foreign investment. Five-star high-rise
buildings will be built along the Bay alongside four-start resorts.

Chi said nearly 60 businesses have registered to invest in the northern
Cam Ranh peninsular.

Cam Ranh is considered one of the best three natural seaports in the
world, besides San Francisco in the US and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.